The funeral service for Melvin L. Steele, of Conger, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Mansfield Lutheran Church. The Rev. Don Rose will officiate. Interment will be in the Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 on Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.
Melvin was born on Aug. 20, 1912, in Conger, the son of Barney and Louise (Behr) Steele. At the age of two his family moved to a farm in rural Alden, and built their home. This is where Melvin grew up. He was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pickerel Lake. Throughout his school days he was very active in 4-H. He was awarded a gold watch and later a trip to the Minnesota State Fair for all of his efforts.
On March 27, 1935, he married Irma Schmidt at the Mansfield Lutheran Church. To this union five children were born: Carroll, Janice, Richard, Myrna and Dennis. They lived in and near Albert Lea until 1942, when they took over the farming operation of Irma’s mother in Mansfield Township. It is here that they farmed until retiring in 1974 and moved to a farm near Conger, which Irma’s grandfather had settled on in 1882. After retiring he continued to help his sons on the farm when needed.
He was an active member of the Mansfield Lutheran congregation where he had served as usher, was in the church brotherhood, served on the cemetery board and was a charter member of the dart ball team. Melvin enjoyed fishing, woodworking, especially making bird houses and mostly being surrounded by his family.
Melvin died on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea, where he had resided for the past year. He was 96.
He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Irma; children: Carroll (Jo) Steele of Acampo, Calif., Janice (Holland) Laak of Inver Grove Heights, Richard (Beverley) Steele of Alden, Myrna (Harold) Paulson of Georgetown, Texas; daughter-in-law Pat Steele of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Scott (Diane) Steele of Roseville, Calif., Kent (Chary) Steele of Pleasanton, Calif., Terry (JoAnn) Steele of San Jose, Calif., Mark (Sara) Venem of Eagle Lake, Todd (Julie) Venem of Lansing, Ill., Beth (James) Jacobs of South St. Paul, Douglas(Stacy) Steele of rural Alden, David (Kellie) Steele of Alden, Danelle (Dustin) Jacobs of rural Alden, Craig Paulson of Aitkin, Catherine Paulson of Dallas, Texas, Shelley (Dean) Irish of Chatfield, Rodney (Sheila) Steele of Albert Lea; four step grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, 12 step great grandchildren, sister, Helen Modderman of Albert Lea, brother, Loren (Delores) Steele of Conger; sisters-in-law: Harriet Butenhoff and Verona (Roger) Boe, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Dennis Steele, sisters: Evelyn Lillibridge and Doris Svendsen and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.